The NFL postseason just feels different. Honestly, Wild Card weekend is great for the sheer volume of games, but the Divisional Round is where the pretenders get sent home and the heavyweights finally trade blows. If you’re looking for the nfl football schedule today, you’ve basically hit the jackpot of the 2026 season. We are down to the final eight teams, and today’s doubleheader features the AFC’s top seed finally hitting the turf and a blood-feud rivalry in the NFC West.
It's Saturday, January 17, 2026. The weather is turning nasty in the Rockies, and the lights are about to go up in Seattle. You don't need a million channels to keep up, just a clear plan for your couch.
Today's NFL Divisional Round Matchups
The bracket has thinned out. After a chaotic opening round where the Rams barely survived Carolina and the Bills outlasted Jacksonville, the stakes have jumped.
Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos
This is the early bird special. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS. If you aren’t near a TV, you can stream it on Paramount+.
Why is this game so fascinating? It’s the "Youth vs. Experience" narrative that everyone keeps talking about. You have Josh Allen, a man who essentially plays football like a human wrecking ball, traveling into the thin air of Empower Field at Mile High. On the other side? Bo Nix and the top-seeded Denver Broncos. Denver earned that first-round bye, and they’ve been sitting at home watching the carnage of Wild Card weekend.
History usually says the bye week helps with injuries but can occasionally lead to a slow start. If Allen and the Bills get up early, that Denver altitude won't feel like much of an advantage. However, the Broncos defense has been a brick wall at home all season.
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San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks
The nightcap is a total "throw out the records" game. It starts at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX. For the cord-cutters, the FOX Sports app and FOX One are your best friends here.
Brock Purdy and the 49ers are heading into the "Clink"—well, Lumen Field—to face a Seattle team that finished the season as the NFC’s number one seed. Think about that for a second. The Niners had to go through a grueling game against the Eagles just to get here, while Seattle has been resting up. These two teams know each other's playbooks better than they know their own families. It’s going to be loud. It’s going to be physical. It’s probably going to come down to a field goal in the rain.
How to Watch and Stream the Games Today
The NFL has made it fairly simple this year, but you still need to know which app to open so you don't miss the opening kickoff while staring at a loading screen.
Network Breakdown:
- Early Game (AFC): CBS / Paramount+
- Late Game (NFC): FOX / FOX Sports App / FOX One
Most people forget that if you have a digital antenna, these are over-the-air broadcasts. You don't even need a subscription. But if you’re traveling or stuck at work, Paramount+ handles the AFC side while the FOX digital platforms cover the NFC. If you have Fubo or YouTube TV, you're obviously set for both.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the 2026 Bracket
A lot of folks assume the higher seed is a lock, especially with the home-field advantage. But look at the Bills. They are a number six seed. In years past, a six seed was a "just happy to be here" team. Not this year. The gap between the 1-seed and the 6-seed in the AFC is paper-thin.
Also, don't buy into the "Seattle is unbeatable at home" myth entirely. Yes, the Seahawks went 14-3 this year. Yes, they have the best scoring defense in the league, allowing only 17.2 points per game. But the 49ers have beaten them in three of their last five meetings. Intimidation is great, but execution is better.
Looking Ahead to Sunday
While today is the main event for many, the nfl football schedule today is only half the story for the weekend. Tomorrow, January 18, we get the rest of the puzzle:
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots: 3:00 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN.
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears: 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock.
The winner of the Bills-Broncos game will face the winner of Texans-Patriots. Meanwhile, the survivor of the 49ers-Seahawks slugfest will meet whoever comes out of the Rams-Bears game in Chicago.
Actionable Tips for Game Day
If you're hosting or just watching solo, here's how to actually enjoy the games without the stress of missing the big plays.
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Check your tech early. Seriously. Update your streaming apps at least an hour before the 4:30 p.m. kickoff. There is nothing worse than a mandatory "system update" while Josh Allen is mid-scramble.
Monitor the Denver weather. The forecast is calling for some wind. If that kicks up, expect both teams to lean heavily on the run. This might devalue your fantasy players or prop bets that rely on deep passing yards.
Keep an eye on the injury report. The Seahawks have been coy about their secondary health. If their starting corners aren't 100%, Purdy will pick them apart regardless of how loud the crowd gets.
The path to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara starts right now. Make sure your snacks are ready, your phone is charged for the group chat, and you’ve got your favorite jersey on. It’s going to be a long, glorious Saturday of football.